#nonmaleficence

@nonmaleficence

While Bumblebee's surgery was underway, Tarn remained in Pharma's office. He attempted to finish a few pending reports and answer messages awaiting his address. However, he could not focus on the task, thoughts straying to the past as memories from long ago resurfaced to haunt his mind. He hasn't revisited that bygone era of his life for some time, not in great detail. Seated in a chair, digits loosely clasped around his datapad, he stared vacantly ahead, optics dim and gaze withdrawn.

He reminisced with the first time he'd witnessed the Founder in a gladiatorial match, the first time he'd heard that spark, distinct even amongst thousands, and felt his own resonate with a deep emotion he hadn't experienced before. He thought about Eidos and the ploy to crush a budding friendship. He recalled a kindred understanding poisoned against him, turning to hate. Such events were lifetimes ago, but now, they were forefront once more, burning starkly against the peace he'd found and built here in New Kaon.

Raising his helm, Tarn looked towards the seat behind the desk, where Pharma would've sat if he were present now. How many hours has the medic spent in this very chamber, pouring over reports and schedules to optimize the endless work of the hospital. Reaching forward, the tankformer touched the edge of the table, and slowly ran his palm across it. His spark pinched in a sharp ache. He breathed a heavy sigh, and took his hand away.

"I can imagine that not all the universes were kind enough to my 'variants'." It felt odd to speak about it, but the medic was aware that he was a Pharma - one of many possibilities. Perhaps a lucky one. "I wouldn't be surprised. Me and the Ratchet of my universe have some history. But I'm well aware you're not the same and should not be treated as such." There was still a bit of tension in his EMF, yet he cycled in a vent and a longer ex-vent followed it when he dealt with some of it. "Torque, I mean the cybersnake, is resting in his enclosure. Would you like to feed it an energon jelly?" There was a moment of pause before the jet smiled and let out a chuckle. "I'm a horrible host. Would you like a cube as well?"

"I had the impression they carried significant trauma, and deeply personal issues toward another version of myself," Ratchet responded, before inclining his helm, "Thank you."

Although he kept his field a respectful distance, neither unavailable nor pressing for interaction, it was a calm aura. His statements were intended for clarity, not to cause tension, and he made no effort to invade the other medic's personal space.

"I'd rather get to know the city in a safe manner." The jet was trying not to get defensive, as it might only lead Tarn to inquire further. "Can you guess what might happen to my frame if I collide with something or someone?" That's what he heard most of the time and what made him wary. Medics were mostly forged and the specific, work-related 'parts' were difficult to reproduce.

"You've been at New Kaon for some time, and you are a jet. Is flying not second nature to you?" Tarn asked out of genuine curiosity and a hint of concern. "I've heard it said that Seekers go mad without access to the sky. Am I to understand you do not share this trait?" Perhaps shortcoming or weakness was a better descriptor, but Nightfall was a Seeker, and it wouldn't do for him to imply a Lieutenant of the Empire had weakness.

Under a canopy of endless stars, the Mithric Sea resembled a great expanse of the night sky, a mirroring mirage disturbed only by its gentle, rhythmic waves that faintly glowed as they lapped against a rocky beach. The Sea was a deep basin of collected rainwater mixed with underground springs of energon, resulting in its signature luminescence. The alkaline properties of its surface neutralized the acidity of the rain, creating a safe and scenic spot that would surely see many vacationers in the years to come.

For the time being, it was mostly unexplored. Any prewar infrastructure that might have once stood has been weathered away by the wind during the many eons of planetary conflict. Tarn rather thought it looked better like this: raw nature in its purest form. He'd parked the Peaceful Tyranny within walking distance of the shore, and was in the process of setting up camp on the beach. He has admittedly never camped before, but it couldn't be any worse than spending a few nights in the wild to hunt down Listers.

The tankformer unfolded two lounging chairs, and placed a small table between them. He walked back to the Tyranny, and returned with a stack of crates in his arms. There were bottles of vintage highgrade inside the crates, as well as boxes of energon pastries and confectionaries. He even packed a heating blanket in case the temperature dropped, but for the time being, the brisk air was refreshing against the plating.

::A cybersnake? How did you get it?:: Pharma could tell that the question of 'why' would answer itself, when Tarn will say something more about the cybersnake. ::It seems you have an odd penchant for animals, both organic and cybernetic.:: The medic commented before turning to the most important thing. ::It won't bother me, but you'll need to take care of that pet, if you'd like to keep it. Or leave clear enough instructions.:: He might warm up to it faster than to Orb. At least the snake was not organic.

::It was gifted to me.:: More like given without warning and left with expectations of care, but Tarn did not mind the tiny creature, which was now coiled in his palm. ::Perhaps, though Orb had been a matter of pride and principle.:: He certainly wouldn't have taken Orb as a pet had circumstances not forced his hand to prove Cybertronian superiority, never mind that he could've simply let Orb go instead of keeping it.

Additional Info Carrd is done !!

This time, it's about Tarn's tower, the Enduring Justice, and New Kaon General Hospital.

I made it mostly as a reference for myself and to also provide some info for anyone writing within this verse. Please check it out and at least look at the pictures. They're pretty~ 🥰

Tagging @nonmaleficence and @nickel-of-the-djd, since Pharma and Nickel are living in the tower/working at the hospital. ^^

::I suppose that the fact you're messaging me about it personally means it might be someone important.:: Again, the jet thought. It wasn't the first time Tarn was messaging about some mech needing him, but the last request made Pharma wary. ::No, I wouldn't mind it. I'm not taking care of emergencies today, but we don't have many of those after the recent changes concerning inebriated individuals and neither I have urgent surgeries to take care of. What's the mech's condition?::

::It might be, though the last time I'd spoken with him, he seemed to have been more interested in a change of career.:: Tarn had a feeling Pharma might not receive the news well, but there was no avoiding the subject, so he decided to be honest with the medijet. ::I'd stumbled into a Starscream of another universe. While I am hardly fond of his counterpart from our world, this one is different. I believe you will see what I mean once you've met him.::

@nonmaleficence